Anaemia in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

lron deficiency anaemia is a serious worldwide public health problem, having negative effects on work capacity, intellectual performance and pregnancy, apparently irreversible by subsequent iron therapy. In the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR], the prevalence of anaemia in women and preschool children is high [2 - 60%]. Anaemia in the EMR has many causes, such as low bioavailabitity of the iron consumed, high consumption of inhibitors of iron absorption, child-bearing patterns and parasitic infections. There is an urgent need for all countries in the Region to Control lron deficiency and anaemia; sultable strategies are discussed